Columb Barracks could accommodate refugees, says CBRRC member

Columb Barracks could play a key role in Westmeath's response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Urkaine, a member of the Columb Barracks Restoration and Regeneration Committee (CBRRC) has suggested.

In a post on social media, Jack O'Sullivan said that that there are “many very good reasons why Columb Barracks is almost perfectly suited to accommodate refugees”.

At present, 26 community groups are based in the in barracks, including The YoYo Youth and Community Cafe, Mullingar EYE, the Olympic Boxing Club, a mental health support group and The Order of Malta. These and the other groups there could help refugees integrate into the community and provide a support network, Mr O'Sullivan believes.

With a bit of work, much of which could be carried out by volunteers, Mr O'Sullivan says that the rooms and apartments that once housed up to 300 soldiers could provide “more than adequate accommodation” for refugees.

“The existing infrastructure, though dated, includes an excellent water supply to most buildings, toilets are located in most buildings, an oil-fired central heating system provides heating to the entire barracks, and a 3-phase electricity supply delivers electricity for heating and lighting to nearly all buildings.

“Also, the principal buildings are weatherproof, with relatively new windows installed by the Defence Forces before the barracks was vacated in 2012.” he said.

The plight of the Ukrainian people has generated an enormous amount of goodwill and this could be harnessed to turn the barracks into suitable location for refugees, Mr O'Sullivan says.

“This is an extraordinarily comprehensive set of personal and community services on the one site, in one location, almost as if Columb Barracks in its present state is designed to host refugees from Ukraine or any other country.”

Earlier this month, Minister of State Peter Burke told the Westmeath Examiner that it is “highly unlikely” that refugees will be housed there as it is “in no fit state to house people at the moment”.

However, Mr O'Sullivan believes that an inspection of the facilities at the barracks should be carried out to gauge its suitability.